February 20, 2014 -- February has been an especially happy month for Rinaldo and Lorraine Fierro of East Hartford. On February 5, the Fierros celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary—a date which coincidently played a big part in their winning the “Lucky for Life” lottery draw game’s 2nd prize worth $25,000 a year for life on February 10.

“We’re a family of four—four of our winning numbers are birthdays. I also play the number 5, which is the day of our anniversary,” Rinaldo told Lottery officials.

Fierro’s $2 Lucky for Life ticket for the February 10 drawing missed the Lucky Ball number, 25, but matched five of the winning numbers drawn; 5-7-12-15-23, for the game’s $25,000 a year for life 2nd prize. Across New England, 49,808 winning Lucky for Life tickets were purchased for that drawing including 16,208 tickets in Connecticut.

The minimum guaranteed amount a 2nd prize Lucky for Life “Annuity” winner could receive is $500,000 ($25,000 a year for 20 years), but winners who live longer than 20 years will receive prize payments for the remainder of their natural life. The Fierros opted to collect their $25,000 a year for life 2nd prize in a one-time cash lump-sum of $390,000 (value before taxes).

“I’ve been playing these numbers for a very long time,” Fierro said. “This extra money will be good to have for some added security in our retirement. We’ll also give some money to our two daughters and four grandchildren.”

Fierro’s lucky match brings the total number of 2nd prize lifetime wins in New England to 16, which includes 5 wins in Connecticut alone. In all, more than $6.4 million in lifetime prizes have been won to date.

For selling Fierro his prize winning ticket, Stop & Shop #613, located at 10 Pitkin Road in Vernon, will receive a $2,500 bonus check from the CT Lottery.